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2 clusters · 6 sources · 2 days · First seen · Last updated

India PDS database cleanup and ration card deactivation

Overview

Efforts to clean up India’s Public Distribution System (PDS) database have intensified through regional and national actions. In West Bengal, the Directorate of Rationing deactivated 11.12 lakh ration cards starting in April, a process that reportedly gained momentum in June. This deactivation utilized voter list revisions to identify deceased, duplicate, or shifted individuals, with officials noting a focus on ensuring subsidies reach genuine beneficiaries.

Expanding this scope to a national level, the Indian government announced that starting October 1, 2026, more than 1.58 crore inactive ration cards will be temporarily blocked. This measure targets cardholders who have not collected food grains between April and September 2026. To maintain access for eligible citizens, a three-month grace period has been established for beneficiaries to complete mandatory eKYC and field verification processes to reactivate their accounts.

Entities

West Bengal Directorate of Rationing · State Food and Supplies Department · Department of Food and Public Distribution · Public Distribution System · West Bengal

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    India to block 1.58 crore inactive ration cards for PDS database cleanup

    Over 1.58 crore inactive ration cards in India will be temporarily blocked starting October 1, 2026, unless holders complete eKYC and verification within a three-month grace period.

  2. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    West Bengal deactivates 11.12 lakh ration cards since April

    West Bengal has deactivated 11.12 lakh ration cards since April, primarily targeting cards held by deceased individuals to ensure food subsidies reach genuine beneficiaries.

Sources

bhaskarlive.in · enavabharat.com · indtoday.com · mangalorean.com · sahilonline.org · timesbull.com